Saturday, 28 January 2012

“Blood Bilge and Iron balls” is an interestingly named set of age-of-sail Wargames rules written by Allan Abbey and published by Pen and Sword. They mark the latest move by more “mainstream” publishers into the wargaming market.

The rules are nicely presented and give a decent game. Ships are represented by a number of hit boxes for guns, sails, hull, and crew, with additional consideration given to key members of the crew (gunner, sailing master) and the “chain of command” – breaking the latter limits the ability of the captain to issue orders and is a very nice touch.

Movement uses a standard approach – considering the ship type, aspect to wind, sail setting and any mast damage to determine speed. Ships must move the full distance indicated which makes close quarter manoeuvring risky (as it should). Gunnery involves rolling a d6 for each gunnery factor, modified for aspect, training etc. to determine hits. A deck of playing cards is then used to determine damage, with different suits denoting damage to different areas of the ship (hull, rigging, crew etc.) another nice touch that allows dismantling shot to be catered for by treating al damage cards drawn as rigging hits (although for some reason only the French seem to be allowed to do this under the rules). Additional rules are included that cover boarding actions in some detail, as well as optional rules covering the effects of land, national characteristics (although see later) and civilian ships. The rules are supported by a number of generic scenarios, and by a scenario covering the battle of the Nile. Full details of the scenario are given, and there are coloured counters at 1/1200 scale for this scenario and for generic battles that can be cut out and used instead of models if these rules are your first foray into AoS wargaming. There is also a very nicely presented generic campaign system covering naval operations, trade and blockade which looks like it would work very well if transported to other settings. All in all a very nice set of rules. There were a few areas that I was not quite convinced about, such as the French shots at rigging mentioned above, carronades are described as “not hugely successful” and the rules take a very “British vs. French and Spanish” approach (I’m sure American readers would have some views on representing their ships in this system, especially with the anniversary of the War of 1812 upon us) but on the whole the rules are sound, not complex and straightforward to amend to cater for your own personal thoughts on the period.

A nice touch is the support provided on the P&S website, where you can download much of the game materials needed, removing the need to cut these from the book. Well done P&S.

Friday, 27 January 2012

One of the Avon Flight gamers at the mall sent off an order to Shapeways just before New Year and I added a few planes to those that he was sending for. They arrived last week and I've just finished the first three. The subjects this time are three mid and late war German 2 seaters.

First up, a Hannover CL.III. No lozenge decal paper (I'm not that keen on it anyway) so a hand painted scheme similar to my earlier Siemens Schuckert single seaters.

Next, an earlier machine, an Albatros C.III. The slightly rough finish of the model coupled with the streaky nature of the Revell paint I was using gives it that varnished wood look.

Finally and DFW C.V. Quite a "chunky" aircraft this one

Pilots and gunners were a mix of Peter Pig and Riviresco. Fitting the pilots especially was a pain, and on reflection I could have done a better job of building up the gunners ring on the Hannover. But overall I was pretty pleased with the way these turned out.

Two more in the paint shop at the moment and they should be done tomorrow. Something a bit unusual this time......

Saturday, 7 January 2012

January 8th and one of the elements of my plan for the year is complete. I decided to take the plunge on January 2nd and launched into what was left of my 15mm Scots Covenanters. This comprised a unit of lancers, a unit of cavalry, some frame guns and crews and a couple of stands of generals. The last of them (plus some retouching of the original units finished last year) was completed this morning.

Whilst sorting out these guys I also came across a generic set of resin fortifications - earth ditches with wooden pallisades, designed for use with WRG frontage units, so I splurged some paint on these as well since they look like they'll work well for ECW improvised fortifications. I might think about building some gun emplacements that will fit in with these later.

The other part of this task was to find the DBA variant rules and army lists that I picked up from peter Colbeck when he did his ECW campaign a few years back. This I have also done. Of course, reading army lists AFTER the army is complete is never a good idea, as I've realised I could really do with some light cavalry as well as the regulars and lancers. Of course i sold off a load of medieval Scots at Reveille and I recall there were some fugures in there that would have been ideal, so a double whammy! Anyway, at least the figures I do have are finished, the rules are located and ready to go and the army lists show that what I do have is OK to make a couple of Scots DBA armies, or a single BBDBA army. I don't have a campaign set up ready to go, but perhaps a peruse of the Warhammer Historical ECW book will give me some ideas.

Tuesday, 3 January 2012

Having a plan for 2011 worked pretty well and gave me a good deal of focus in my wargaming which was previously lacking. So Here's my first thoughts on a plan for 2012. As last year I expect it will change, but here's what I would like to accomplish this year:

1) Coastal Forces, 1/1200 - a project from last year that didn't get off the ground. The plan is to sort out my unpainted model collection and get my fast play rules into a fit state for games.

2) 15mm ECW - Just a few units to finish off, mainly the Scots cavalry and generals that I missed last year. Then to sort out the various files I have on my computer covering the DBA extension rules and army lists.

3) Medieval Naval - finish off the last 30 cogs, and sort out the fina details for the rules and campaign system

4) AK47 - I have way too much AK47 stuff, so I will sort out what I've got, recycle excess stuff through the Reveille tabletop sale and spruce up whats left. The individually mounted figures I have I'll finish and use for purely skirmish games.

5) Napoleonic naval - another big "lead pile" here. I will try to paint and rig at least one ship per month.

6) 15mm SCW - finish off the last few units (the ersatz Finnish tank squadron and the casualty figures) and then set about finishing off Laura's fast play rules

7) The Sudan - I really want to get back into this in 2012. I'm awaitinga few units from Nigel, my expert painting friend and I have a couple of units of Bashi Basouks and some civilians to paint up, then all is complete on the modelling front. I think I ought to make another river steamer as well. Then to finalise the rules and get some games in!

8) Wings of War - This is a firm favourite and I'll be getting in as many games as I can, and building up my air fleets.

9) War Rocket - I have one squadron of ships already, and a second one (plus the rules) waiting for me in the US. apart form these I'l probably look to scratch build a few ships as well.

I also have two "special projects" which are ongoing but which I can't say more about just now. Details (hopefully) later).

One thing I am going to try to cut down on is adding to the "lead pile". So I'm imposing a ban on buying new stuff with a few exceptions:

Wings of War - New Shapeways models plus the eagerly awaited new releases from Ares

Navwar cogs - I need a few of these to round out my medieval fleets

An order with peter Pig for SCW stuff, planned before Christmas but I just failed to get it in before their website ordering system closed down

The new Sails of Glory game from Ares

SCW - a couple of armoured trucks based on the Zvezda GAZ truck, again I just failed to get an order in before New Year.

Other than that (and "staple" items such as paints, glues and materials) - nothing new!! (I wonder how long i can keep that up!)

As far as last year was concerned, how did we do?

1) 15mm ECW - a sudden burst of enthusiasm saw the foot troops finished off. Cavalry, mounted command and some light artillery still to do

2) Wings of War - one of the big "successes" of 2011, with everything painted up nicely and lots of games played at the Mall, Iron Acton, Cardiff and at home.

3) 15mm SCW - almost everything completed. Some nice irregular units formed and the regulars finished off. Just a few things left to sort out now (see above)

4) Coastal - Failed, but I plan to sort that out this year.

5) The Room - fluctuated between "useable" and "dump". Hoping it will spend more time in the former state this year!

Monday, 2 January 2012

Just to finish off the model count for 2011, here are the last models that came off the production floor at the Bristol Aerofactorium on the 31st December. They are a couple of the new seaplanes from the Skytrex 1/144 range; a Felixstowe F.2A and a Short 184 seaplane.

Lovely kits that go together well. A pity about the excessive "ridging" on the wings, but the overall effect is OK.